Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Selected Scriptures

Introduction

“Spiritual Gifts” are one of the most misunderstood, abused, misused and underused blessing that Christ has bestowed on the church and its members.

This is particularly so since Pentecostal and Charismatic movements started to make appearances in Christian circles.

Pentecostalism & Charismatism

Pentecostalism is similar to the Charismatic movement, but developed earlier and separated from the mainstream church denominations.

Charismatic Christians, at least in the early days of the movement, tended to remain in their respective denominations.

• Pentecostalism first began to appear in the late 1800, as some members of “holiness movement” in the USA, started to advocate “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, tongue speaking and miracles.
• Although there were claims of Pentecostal expereinces of tongues prior to 1906, The Azusa Street Revival led by William J. Seymour is the watershed of the Pentecostal movement in the U.S and worldwide.
• Beginning April 9, 1906 in Los Angeles, California at the home of Edward Lee who claimed the infilling of the Holy Spirit as of such date.
• William J. Seymour claimed that he was overcome with the Holy Spirit on April 12, 1906.
• On April 18, 1906, the Los Angeles Times ran a front page story on the revival, "Weird Babel of Tongues, New Sect of fanatics is breaking loose, Wild scene last night on Azusa Street, gurgle of wordless talk by a sister".
• By the third week in April, 1906, the small but growing congregation rented an abandoned African Methodist Episcopal Church at 312 Azusa Street and subsequently became organized as the Apostolic Faith Mission.
• Almost all mainline Pentecostal denominations today trace their historical roots to the Azusa Street Revival.
• Since then the modern Christian world has seen constant growth of their teachings and practices.
• Today it has gone into almost all the mainline denominations and is generally known as Charismatism.
• From the beginning they have emphasized that ecstatic and miraculous gifts as proofs of the baptism of the Spirit.
• This fast wide spreading movement has been spinning farther and farther from the proper Scriptural teachings since its inception.

Their preoccupation with the ecstatic experiences has produced some very strange, totally unbiblical phenomena in their midst, such as

• Mass hysteria of gibberish (Tongues)
• Claims of healing, signs and wonders (Faith Healing)
• Prosperity and health to all who believe and receive blessings from their anointed leaders (Health-Wealth Gospel)
• Falling backward and rolling on the ground (Slain in the Spirit)
• Uncontrolled laughter, accompanied by animal like sounds and behaviour (Holy Laughter)

Are these true manifestations of the Spiritual Gifts that the Lord Jesus Christ offered to the members of His Church?

If those modern manifestations are not consistent with the Scripture, then they are not from God, but self-generated or satanic.

The Scriptures warn us that in the last days there will be an upsurge of spiritual deception through miracle workers. The Scriptures clearly teach us that in the last days many will be deceived to follow false teachers by their wonders and signs. The false prophets would mislead people through their miraculous, ecstatic deeds. In fact, a sure sign of the end times is the form of godliness that is devoid of truth and holiness, and yet with manifestation of miraculous.

• Mathew 24:4-5, 11-13, 24
• Matthew 7:21-23;

Foundational Gifts

• These were generally miraculous gifts.
• They were given as part of the revelation of God’s Word in the early church
• They were either “revelatory gifts” or “sign gifts”
• These are non-permanent gifts. They ceased as soon as their purpose was accomplished.

Revelatory Gifts – Not to be continued

In 1 Corinthians 13:8, Paul emphasizes the permanence of love by contrasting it with spiritual gifts that are meant to be temporary.

Verse 8 says,

• “Charity never faileth” (Hē agapē oudepote piptei): Love never faileth. It is expressive of the perpetuity of love. Love survives everything.
• “but”
• “whether there be prophecies, they shall fail” ("shall fail": katargēthēsontai): First future passive of katargeō (from argos): to make idle, to be inoperative. Prophetic gift will be made inoperative (when the Bible, complete revelation of God’s truth, comes to existence cf. vv.9-10).
• “whether there be tongues, they shall cease” ("shall cease": pausontai): Future middle indicative of pauō, which means “to make cease.” The middle voice suggest that the gift of tongues shall make itself cease or automatically cease of itself.
• “whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” ("shall vanish away": This word is also from the same Greek word as “fail” (katargeō). The gift of knowledge shall no more take place.

Paul clearly said that all of these special spiritual gifts, that were given for the purpose of revelation would pass away.

The Reason for their cessation:

1 Corinthians 13:9-10
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

• Through those revelatory gifts, the early Christians were given portions of God’s truth each time when one was led to exercise them.
• The word “in part” (appears twice in v.9) is translated from the Greek word, meros, which means, “one of the constituent parts of a whole, or in a measure, or severally, or individually.”
• In the early church, the truth of God was given to edify the congregation through these revelatory gifts, but the truth was revealed in portions.
• The New Testament was not yet written. So those gifts continued until the revelation (N.T) was complete.
• After the revelation (the Scripture / the New Testament) was complete (apostolic period) and then put together (canonization 350 A.D – 451 A.D), these revelatory gifts were vanished.
• We have plenty of credible testimony from the church fathers that those revelatory gifts and the accompanied confirmatory gifts or sign gifts ceased after the completion and acceptance of the New Testament.

John Chrysostom (347-407) concerning the spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians:

“This whole place is very obscure: but the obscurity is produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to, and by their cessation, being such as then used to occur but now no longer take place” (“Homilies on 1 Corinthians,” Vol. XII, The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Hom 29:2).

John Calvin (1509-1564):

“...the gift of healing, like the rest of the miracles, which the Lord willed to be brought forth for a time, has vanished away in order to make the preaching of the Gospel marvellous for ever” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Bk IV:19, 18).

John Owen (1616-1683):

“Gifts which in their own nature exceed the whole power of all our faculties, that dispensation of the Spirit is long since ceased and where it is now pretended unto by any, it may justly be suspected as an enthusiastic delusion” (Works IV, 518).

Thomas Watson (1620-1686):
“Sure, there is as much need of ordination now as in Christ's time and in the time of the apostles, there being then extraordinary gifts in the church which are now ceased” (The Beatitudes, 140).

Matthew Henry (1662-1714):
Speaking of the ‘gift of tongues,’ he said, “These and other gifts of prophecy, being a sign, have long since ceased and been laid aside, and we have no encouragement to expect the revival of them; but, on the contrary, are directed to call the Scriptures the more sure word of prophecy, more sure than voices from Heaven; and to them we are directed to take heed, to search them, and to hold them fast ...” (Preface to Vol IV of his Exposition of the OT & NT, vii).

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758):
“Of the extraordinary gifts, they were given 'in order to the founding and establishing of the church in the world. But since the canon of Scriptures has been completed, and the Christian church fully founded and established, these extraordinary gifts have ceased” (Charity and its Fruits, 29).

George Whitefield (1714-1770):
“... the karismata, the miraculous gifts conferred on the primitive church ... have long ceased ...” (Second Letter to the Bishop of London, Works, Vol. IV, 167).

James Buchanan (1804-1870)
“The miraculous gifts of the Spirit have long since been withdrawn. They were used for a temporary purpose” (The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit, 34).

Robert L. Dabney (1820-1898)
“After the early church had been established, the same necessity for supernatural signs now no longer existed, and God, Who is never wasteful in His expedients, withdrew them ... miracles, if they became ordinary, would cease to be miracles, and would be referred by men to customary law” (‘Prelacy a Blunder,’ Discussions: Evangelical and Theological, Vol. 2, 236-237).

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Speaking of the office of the apostles, “an office which necessarily dies out, and properly so, because the miraculous power also is withdrawn” (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit 1871, Vol. 17, 178).

Benjamin B. Warfield (1851-1921)
“These gifts were ... distinctively the authentication of the apostles. They were part of the credentials of the apostles as the authoritative agents of God in founding the church. Their function thus confirmed them to distinctively the apostolic church and they necessarily passed away with it” (Counterfeit Miracles, 6). After the revelation (the Scripture / the New Testament) was complete (apostolic period) and then put together (canonisation 350 A.D – 451 A.D), these revelatory gifts were vanished.

Sign-Gifts

Together with the revelatory gifts, the Lord also bestowed upon those who were called to be the Apostles, miraculous gifts for the confirmation of their message. These miraculous were not found with every believer. They were seen being performed only by those who were in the Apostolic band.

The following verses and all the evidences in the Acts and elsewhere in the epistles point to this truth.

• 2 Corinthians 12:12 - "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
• Acts 2:43 - "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”
• Acts 5:12- "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch."
• Romans 15:19 - "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." These signs were done by the Apostle Paul.

Conclusion

All the foundational gifts have been ceased with completion of the New Testament.

Now we must build upon that is revealed and confirmed, the Bible.

Ephesians 2:20 – “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”

• The apostles and prophets were the two major offices of the early which the Lord has given to the church, that they may reveal the Word of God, which will be the foundation of the church. Their gifts were foundational and temporary. Those gifts have vanished with them. Today, as Paul said in Ephesians 2:20, we ought to build upon using the gifts that are for our times, such as preaching, teaching, ministering, etc.
• Anyone who claims to have those foundational gifts and their confirmatory (sign) gifts is a pretender and deceiver. Christ has already laid the foundation through the revelation of His Word through the apostles and prophets, He Himself being the chief cornerstone. The Lord is no more in the work of laying the foundation. The foundation is already laid.
• Today the members of the church, must proclaim, teach and live according to the foundational truth of His Word, which is given to us by the Apostles and prophets. If anyone today appears with the claim that he is an apostle or a prophet, we must reject such. Their miracles are not of God (Matt 7:21-23; 24:24), they are counterfeits, like those of the ancient Egyptian magicians who performed the miracles that Moses did.
• Let us therefore do not seek after the charismatic ecstasy and miracle signs because they are counterfeits. But let us seek to build upon the Word of God, which is handed down to us by the Apostles and prophets of the church.

Our Service in the Church - II

Our Service in the Church - II

Romans 12:4-8

Introduction

• God has called us to be living, active, serving members.
• Every Christian ought to function like a member of the body (cf. vv.4-5).
• The Church is Christ’s body. We, the members of the church, though diverse in our abilities function in unity.
• A non-serving member weakens the Church, as its members remain dysfunctional.

Basis for Our Service in the Church

• The basis is God’s gracious bestowing of spiritual gifts.
• Romans 12:6a - "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.”
• “having then gifts”- All true believers are bestowed with “gifts” to equip them to serve.
• Those gifts are given “according to the grace that is given to us.”
• We can/must serve in the church because God has given us “gifts” to enable us to serve.
  – While speaking of the gifts, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
  – 1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
  – We ought to be “stewards” or faithful servants in managing God-given gifts by using it appropriately and promptly.
  – Because God has bestowed all Christians, every one who claims to be a Christian is without excuse for not serving the Lord actively in His church.
• The Greek word for “gift” (charismata) speaks of God’s grace in blessing us with spiritual abilities.
  – God is the giver of the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). He has graciously given us the gifts.
  – The Spiritual gifts are not cultivated or earned by oneself, but “received” from God’s hands.
  – So spiritual gifts do not reflect a person's greatness, but the greatness of God who gave the gift.
  – Since we are enabled by His grace, none of us should be proud of our gifts and service.
  – We must serve in the church with thankfulness, humility, willingness and vigour.
  – Not to serve God is to neglect the grace and gift of God. (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6).

Use of Gifts in Our Service

• Seven spiritual gifts are mentioned in verses 6-8.
• (i) Prophecy (v.6), (ii) Ministry, (iii) Teaching (v.7) (iv) Exhortation, (v) Giving, (vi) Ruling (Administration), and (vii) Mercy (v.8).
  – Only one of this is a “sign-gift”
  – In the Scripture, there are about 18 catgegories gifts are mentioned.

i) Prophecy (v.6):

“let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith”

• Purpose of prophesying—communicating God’s message, to strengthen, encourage, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3).
• One’s “prophesying” ought to be proportionate to the (not his) faith.” (tes pisteos).
• It is to be in right relationship to the body of truth already revealed (“faith” as doctrine in Gal. 1:23; Jude 3, 20).

ii) Ministry (v.7):

“Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering”

• Ministry (diakonia): All kinds of services, let us be occupied with it.

iii) Teaching (v.7):

“he that teacheth, on teaching”

• Acts 13:1; 1Corinthains 12:28
• Pastors ought to be good teachers. There is no such thing as “music-pastor”.
• Only diligent students of God’s Word can be teachers. God equips some for the feeding of the flock by giving them the gift of teaching; and they should labour in the word (1 Timothy 5:17).

iv) Exhortation (v.8):

“he that exhorteth, on exhortation”

• The gift of exhortation is about comforting, encouraging, and consoling fellow brethren (paraklesis).
• This does not necessarily involve public teaching. It is calling along side an individual to admonish, correct, guide, comfort and strengthen in the Christian walk.

v) Giving (v.8):

“he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity”

• When we give we must give with sincerity, without hypocrisy, (simplicity –Greek – haplotes).
• We should not seek self-promotion. No fanfare, when it comes to generosity.

vi) Ruling (v.8):

“he that ruleth, with diligence”

• The gift of ruling refers to leadership administration. The Greek word for rule” (proistemi) means “to be over,” “to superintend,” or “preside over.”
• This gift is to be carried with “diligence,” which in Greek(spoude), means “haste,” “forwardness” “earnestness,” etc.
• Every leader (elder) must fulfil the duty of his office with great earnestness. He must strive after in accomplishing the leadership roles.
• Leadership is not a promotion given, but a call to duty, which must be diligently fulfilled.

vii) Mercy (v.8):

“he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

• Showing mercy (eleeo) is about having compassion to the needy and the troubled. This is a believer being efficient in helping the afflicted or seeking aid, or one’s ability to bring help to the wretched.
• This gift ought to be done with “cheerfulness” (hilarotes). It is impossible to show mercy with a grumpy spirit. Showing mercy is often a very demanding and exhausting work. So those with this gift need not only patience but also “cheerfulness”.
• A ready and joyful heart must characterize those who are called by the Spirit to the ministries of compassion and mercy.

May God bless us abundantly by His grace through His blessed Spirit to carry out each of our gifts that our church may be edified and strengthened for His glory.

Our Service in the Church - I

Our Service in the Church - I

Romans 12:4-8

Introduction

• A large number of Christians give little consideration to their service in the church.
• It weakens the Christian, as he fails to appropriate God’s grace that is made available to him to serve God in His church.
• It also weakens the Church, as its members remain dysfunctional.
• Paul has already told us in the previous verses that we should not to think and act as we deem best, but according to God’s plan and decrees (vv. 2-3).

We are exhorted

• “ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (v.2)
• “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (v.3)

Church’s Body Functionality (vv.4-5)

Body Metaphor (v.4)

In verse 4 Paul introduces human body as a simile or an image to teach us the divine plan for the functionality of His church.

• “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office” (v.4).
• The conjunction “for” introduces this verse as the reason why we should not think individualistically, an admonition he mentioned in verse 3. The reason for not thinking individualistically is that we are called to be joined to one body as its members.
• The term “as” tells us that Paul is using the concept of body functionality as a metaphor to teach the function of the church and its members ought to function.
  1 Corinthians 10:17 – “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
  1 Corinthians 12:12 – “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
  1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
  Ephesians 1:22-23 – “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
  Ephesians 2:16 – “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”
  Ephesians 3:6 - “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”
  (cf. Ephesians 4:4,12,16; 5:23)
  Ephesians 5:30 – “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
  Colossians 1:18 – “And he is the head of the body, the church . . .”
  (cf. Colossians 1:24; 2:17,19; 3:15)

Two major points of comparison

• The church is made up of believers, like the body that is made up of many members - “For as we have many members in one body”
• Believers in the church functions like members of the body – “and all members have not the same office.”

Church’s Functionality Explained (v.5)

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

• Diversity: “So we, being many”
• Unity: “are one body in Christ”
• Functionality: “and every one members one of another”

Diversity: “So we, being many”

• God has designed the church as a living organism with many members with various functions
• v.4b - “and all members have not the same office.”
• 1 Corinthians 12:14 says, “For the body is not one member, but many.”
• God has designed the church as a living organism with many members with various functions
• Church is not a “one man show.”
• The church has leaders, but it functions the best when all the members serve with their different abilities.
• 1 Corinthians 12:15-19

Unity: “are one body in Christ”

• Diversity does not mean that we stand disunited.
• In Christ, we function as one body.
• Members work out their diverse gifts as they like, but as Christ, the Head, would direct. Thus they function as members of one body
• 1 Corinthians 12:20-27

Functionality: “and every one members one of another”

• Mutual care and support are emphasised by these words.
• 1 Corinthians 12:25 - That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
• Ephesians 4:11-13

Conclusion

• As a Christian, have you joined the church to be a functioning member by baptism (or transfer of membership)?
• As a member of the church, have you been actively serving other members according to the will your Saviour?
• Let us rise up to serve the Lord like one united body of Christ, as He instructed us this day.

My Sermon Outline (10 Dec, 2006)

Has the N.T. Church Replaced Israel Permanently?

Romans 11: 1-36

Introduction

• There are Christians who believe that the nation of Israel is totally replaced by the N.T Church.
• They deny that God is still working out His specific promises and prophecies concerning the nation of Israel.
• They erroneously spiritualize and apply promises and prophesies concerning Israel to the N.T Church.
• In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul reveals that God has not replaced Israel with the N.T Church forever.
• Here Paul lays out various biblical reasons why God has not rejected Israel totally.
• Israel is not permanently cast aside by God. According to God’s plan, it still has a future.

Proofs that Israel is not Permanently Replaced:

Proof from Paul’s Personal Experience (v.1)

• Paul, an Israelite (“of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin”), is saved by faith in Christ.
• Paul, though a Christian, still emphasizes that he is an Israelite. The distinct identity of the Jew/Israelite is not completely eradicated, though he is a Christian.

Proof from the Biblical History (vv. 2-10)

• Paul reached back into 1 Kings 18 & 19 to show that God has always had a faithful remnant even in the times of greatest unbelief in Israel.
• In his day, Elijah thought that the nation had totally departed from God (see 1 Kings 19).
• But Elijah discovered that there was yet a remnant of true believers.
• Though He thought he was the only faithful Jew left, later he discovered that there were 7,000 more.
• Paul already established that even in ancient Israel, not all the people were obedient believers.
• Romans 9:27
• So Paul says in v.6, “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”
• Note that this remnant is saved by grace and not by works (Rom. 11:5–6).
• But many Israelites, then and now, consider their religious rites and rituals guarantee their spiritual well-being.
• The fact that the Jews shared in the covenant by being circumcised did not guarantee their salvation. Like Abraham, they had to believe God in order to receive His righteousness.
• If God’s grace has chosen and preserved a remanant, what happened to the rest?
• They were judicially hardened in their unbelief that they would perish (v.7).
  Paul gives further proof by citing Isaiah 29:10; Deuteronomy 29:4 in verses 8; and Psalm 69:22–23 in verses 9-10.

Proof from the Provocation caused by the Gentiles’ salvation (vv. 11-15)

• Verse 11 says, “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”
• Today, the saved Gentiles provoke Israel “to jealousy” (see Rom. 10:19) because of the spiritual riches they have in Christ. Israel today is spiritually bankrupt, while Christians have “all spiritual blessings” in Christ (Eph. 1:3).

Proof from Patriarachs (vv. 16-24)

• Though this section is a warning to Christians who came from Gentile background not to mock Israel, it also points to the fact that Israel will have full restoration in the future.
• He refers to the ancestry of Israel to show us that God has not fully rejected Israel.
• He uses two illustrations here.

The lump of dough (v. 16a). (cf. Numbers 15:17–21.)

• The first part of the dough was to be offered up to God as a symbol that the entire lump belonged to Him. The same idea was involved in the Feast of Firstfruits, when the priest offered a sheaf to the Lord as a token that the entire harvest was His (Lev. 23:9–14).
• The basic idea is that when God accepts the part He sanctifies the whole.

The olive tree (vv. 16b-24).

• The roots of the tree support the tree; again, this was a symbol of the patriarchs who founded the nation.
• God made His covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He cannot deny them or change them. Thus, it is God’s promise to Abraham that sustains Israel even today.
• We (wild olive branches) are grafted into that natural olive tree, when some God has cut off the unbelieving Jews (broken branches).
• We (N.T. Church) stand on Israel. “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).
• No matter how far Israel may stray from the truth of God, the roots are still good.
• God will keep His promises to these patriarchs. This means that the olive tree will flourish again!

God will Restore Israel (v.25-32)

• In His Time (v.25)
• According to His promise (v.26)
• According to His covenants (vv.27-28)
• Because of His faithfulness (v.29)
• Because of His grace (vv.30-32)
• Because of His wisdom (vv.33-36)

Conclusion

• We have a very patient and gracious God, who is willing and ready to forgive and restore us. Let us learn today that we should not hardened our hearts, but repent from our backslidings.
• He is faithful and just to forgive us
• Let us praise Him for the riches of His mercy and proclaim His saving name that both Jews and Gentiles alike find salvation in the Gospel of Christ.

My Sermon Outline (19 Nov, 2006)

Rejection, Redemption, Restoration
Romans 10:19-21

Introduction

Preceding Context (cf. Romans 10:12-18):

• The Word of God is to be preached everywhere that those who hear might believe and be saved.


• It is the duty of the church to send preachers everywhere to sound forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Present Concern:

A concern was raised about the rejection of the Gospel by the nation of Israel, while it is accepted increasingly by the Gentiles.

v.19 - “But I say, Did not Israel know?”

• Why is it that while people from all nations are turning to Christ, Israel, as a nation, shows no knowledge of Christ?


• Israel’s present ignorance of Christ and Gentiles acceptance of Christ are not because the Gospel was not preached to Israel, while it is preached elsewhere.


• Jesus was born in the midst of Israel. He lived, ministered, died, resurrected and ascended to heaven from their midst. Jesus said in Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”


• The apostolic ministry of the Gospel began in Jerusalem of Israel. Peter told the Jews in Acts 3:25-26, “Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”


• So Israel had the witnesses of:

Christ who lived in their midst
The early apostlic preaching ministry
The early Christians
The testimony of John the Baptist
The covenants & promises in the Old Testament that pointed to Christ
The prophets who testified of Christ

• Why are they still ignorant of Christ?

Rejection (v.19b)

• It was the rejection of Christ, even though all of those testimonies were before them, that made them ignorant of their Saviour.


• To prove this is the case, Paul cited the words of Old Testament prophet, Moses in Deuteronomy 32:21.


• Paul cited in verse 19b the last part of Deuteronomy 32:21, “First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.”


• The larger context of Deuteronomy 32:21 – “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”


• Through Moses God has prophesied that when Israel would go after other gods, He would provoke them by leaving them for foolish nations who knew Him not.


• Paul cites a very early prophet as Moses to show how early God has warned against their rejection of Christ.


• A two-fold rejection – When Israel rejected Christ, God rejected Israel.
  

Redemption (v.20)

• Israel rejection of Christ has turned God to the Gentiles that He might redeemed them through the Gospel of Christ.


• To prove this is the case, Paul cited another prophet other than Moses, even Isaiah.


• In verse 20, Paul cited Isaiah 65:1, "But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me."


• Here Isaiah boldy told a proud Israel that God will turn toward a people, who never sought Him in worship or prayer, even the Gentiles, that He may become their God.


• Let us take note that it is not the goodness of Gentiles that moved God to save them.


• It was His own gracious decision that brought salvation to us, who are non-Israleites.


• It is man’s duty to “Seek and find.” But we failed.


• So God revealed Himself to them who never sought Him that He may be found of them.


• He dispenses His grace at His good pleasure to whom He chose. Thus he manifested himself to the Gentiles, by sending the light of the gospel among them.


• So let us not become proud because we are now favoured at the expense of Israel and become like Israel who rejected God and His Word in their pride.


• Paul warns us in Romans 11:19-22 – “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”

Restoration (v.21)
“But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” This is a citation of Isaiah 65:2.

• The Lord is patient to His people. He yearns over Israel all day long.


• Though He left them for now, He still awaits their returning with stretched hands.


• So Paul pleaded that they would believe on the Lord

Conclusion

• Let us return to Him, from all our backsliding. He will receive us with open arms.


• Let us echo the message of Romans 10:19-21 by singing Fanny J. Crosby’s famous hymn, “Jesus is calling”. Encourage ourselves and others around us to be restored to Christ from all our backsliding.
  

Jesus is tenderly calling thee home
Calling today, Calling today
Why from the sunshine of love wilt thou roam
Farther and Farther away

Chorus: Calling today, Calling today,
Jesus is calling,
Is tenderly calling today

Jesus is calling the weary to rest
Calling today, Calling today
Bring Him thy burden and thou shalt be blest
He will not turn thee away . . . . chorus

Jesus is waiting, O come to Him now
Waiting today, Waiting today
Come with thy sins at His feet lowly bow
Come and no longer delay . . . . chorus

Jesus is pleading, O list to His voice
Hear Him today, Hear Him today
They who believe on His name shall rejoice
Quickly arise and away . . . . chorus

My Sermon Outline (12 Nov 06)

Sending Preachers
Romans 10:12-18

Introduction

• The church’s greatest duty on earth is to send preachers.
• Church is God’s only institution on earth that is given the task of preaching the Gospel of salvation everywhere.
• So the Apostle Paul instructs the church in Rome, its duty of sending preachers.

Reasons for Church’s Commitment to Send Preachers
1. We are entrusted with a message (v.15c)
“preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (v.15c)

• “Gospel of peace”: The good news that offers peace. (cf. Ephesians 6:15)
– It is the word of reconciliation between God and man. “On earth peace” (Luke 2:14).
– Romans 5:1 - “. . . Peace with God through Jesus Christ”

• “Glad tidings of good things!”:
– 2 Thessalonians 2:16 – “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.”
– Romans 10:12b-13 - “the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

• “is rich” (Greek – plouteo): It indicates that God is affluent in resources so that He can give blessings of salvation to all.
• What a joyous news is that God will manifest His grace and salvation abundantly to all those who would trust Him.

• The Apostle Paul has described the message of the Gospel also as

– “Gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27)
– “Gospel of salvation” (Ephesians 1:13; 1 Thess 3:2; 2 Thess 1:8)
– “Glorious Gospel” (1 Timothy 1:11)

2. We are entrusted with a mandate (vv.14-15a)

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”
• Faith comes by hearing, so they must hear the message. How will they hear?
• A messenger must go to them with the message.
• But this means that the messenger must be sent.
• The preachers ought to be sent to every people, indiscriminately. It is God’s commandment to His Church.

– Romans 10:12-13 – “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
– Matthew 28:18-20

Role of the Church in Sending Preachers
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (v.15a)
• Preparing Preachers
– 2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
• Providing for Preachers
– Philippians 4:10-19
• Pray for preachers
– We must pray for more labourers to do the work of evangelism. - Matthew 9:37-38
– We must pray for the protection of those who preach the Gospel - Romans 15:30-31
– We must pray that God would grant us more opportunities to preach the Gospel. - Colossians 4:2-3
– We ought to pray that the preachers of the Gospel would have the grace to expound the truth clearly to the hearers. - Colossians 4:3-4
– We must pray God that He would grant us boldness in preaching - Ephesians 6:19, 20

Responses to the Church’s Sending of Preachers
• Some will turn to the Lord
– Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• Some will reject the Lord
– Romans 10:16 – “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”

Results of the Church’s Sending of Preachers
• Divine commendation
– Romans 10:15b - “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace”
• Many will turn to Christ by faith
– Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
• World evangelization is accomplished
– Romans 10:18 - “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”
We will be able to fulfil our part in God’s plan concerning the Global preaching of the Gospel.
– Matthew 24:14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

My Sermon outline (5th Nov 06)

The Word of Faith
Romans 10:8-11

Introduction
Revision and New Observations of the Preceding Context (vv.2-7)
• Ignorant zeal of the Jews (vv.2-3)
– Inconsistent with the knowledge (v.2b)
– Ignorant of God’s righteousness (v.3a)
– Insistent on self-righteousness (v.3b)
– Insubordinate to God’s righteousness (v.3c)
• Christ, “the end of the law” (v.4)
– Christ is the designed end (telos) or the purpose or the object of the law concerning righteousness.
– He has fulfilled the law (all its righteous precepts – moral and ceremonial)
– So He became the “righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Paul then applies two Old Testament passages to urge his readers to exercise faith in Christ as their righteousness.
i) v.5: Cf. Leviticus 18:5 – “That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”
• If any one wants to live by the righteousness of the law, it requires complete obedience to all of the law.
• But such a perfect righteousness through total obedience is impossible for the sinful man ever to achieve.
Romans 3:20 – “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Romans 9:31- “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.”
James 2:10 – “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
• This not at all due to the fault or error of the law, but man’s inability. The law, by itself, does not make us righteous, but it exposes and condemns our sins.
Romans 7:7 - What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

ii) v.6 : Cf. Deuteronomy 30:12-14
The point of Moses’ exhortation (Deut. 30:11) is that God’s Word given to the Israelites in his day.
• Since they had the message, they did not need to ask that it be brought down from heaven or that someone cross the sea to get it (Deut. 30:13).
• Instead, the Word of God was near them (Deut. 30:14).
• In effect, Paul, like Moses, urged the people to see that it takes no strenuous effort from them to find their righteousness.
• There is no need for anyone to attempt to bring Christ down or to bring Christ up from the dead. God had already sent His Son to us. Christ had already come, lived, died and resurrected.
• Whosever believes on Him will have all his sins forgiven and imputed with Christ’s perfect righteousness.
We Preach the Word of Faith (v.8)
“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach”
– The term, “the word” (rhēma) occurs twice. It is often translated as “saying.”
– The emphasis of the word is “that which has been stated or said, with primary focus upon the content of the communication.”
– Our message should never be a message of exertion or superstition or tradition.
– Our message ought to be a message of faith in Christ.
– We ministers of the church must preach the “word of faith.” If we add anything to it, we will drag our hearers into a false religion that cannot save.
– This is truth for which the Reformers separated themselves from the false Gospel preached by the Roman Catholicism.
– Today the evangelical preachers from Protestant churches seek to merge with the Roman Catholics. So they created ECT and other ecumenical efforts.
– God forbid that we preach or do anything that will lead our hearers to a religion that cannot save.
Galatians 1:6-9 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
– Our duty, as a church and preachers, is to declare the “word of faith.”
– Preaching Christ is our greatest duty that sinners be brought to Christ and be saved.
Acts 28:31 - “Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
1 Corinthians 1:17 - “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
1 Corinthians 1:21 - “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

You Believe on Christ (vv.9-10)
“9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
– Confession and believing are not two separate steps to salvation.
– They are chronologically together. Salvation comes through acknowledging to God that Christ is God and believing in Him.
– The confession is an acknowledgement of one’s faith that Christ has incarnated to be our Saviour and that Jesus Christ is God.
– Confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord is mentioned first to conform to the order of the quotation from Deuteronomy 30:14 in Romans 10:8.
– One essential aspect of your heart-faith must be that God raised Him from the dead (cf. v. 7).
– The true order is given in verse 10: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified (“believeth unto righteousness”), and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved .

Salvation is Guaranteed (vv.10-11)
“10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
• Paul quotes again Isaiah 28:16 (cf. Rom. 9:33).- “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
• No one who believes in Christ will be exempted from receiving the salvation. None who believes will be condemned.
• Paul reemphasized this truth in verse 12-13, “12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Conclusion
May we, who believe on Gospel of Christ, rejoice that we shall never be condemned. My hearer, if you are still in your sin and its condemnation, you must turn to Christ for your redemption and purification. He lived perfect life and His righteousness is promised to all those who would put their faith in Him. He also died to remove the condemnation of our sins.

Final Hymn – Saved, Saved!

I’ve found a Friend, who is all to me,
His love is ever true;
I love to tell how He lifted me
And what His grace can do for you.
Saved by His pow’r divine, Saved to new life sublime!
Life is now is sweet and joy is complete, For I’m saved, saved!

- Jack P.Scholfield